Global Autism Advocate to Keynote National Conference

Community Options, Inc. a national nonprofit organization that has been developing homes and employment supports for people with disabilities since 1989, will be holding its 5th Annual iMatter Conference September 27-September 30th at the W Hotel in Dallas.

Laura Shumaker will be delivering a keynote on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 9:00am. Shumaker will focus her keynote on the advocacy work of caregivers. "Parents nor their children enter the world of disability by choice. But it is the choice of Caregivers, and every day we must show them our gratitude,” says Shumaker.

Shumaker is the author of A Regular Guy: Growing Up With Autism and is a City Bright for the San Francisco Chronicle. She has contributed to several anthologies, including Voices of Autism, A Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Special Needs, Writin’ on Empty, and the forthcoming Gravity Pulls You In. She is a regular contributor to NPR Perspectives and a columnist for 5 Minutes for Special Needs. Laura’s essays have appeared in The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, Literary Mama, the East Bay Monthly, The Autism Advocate and on CNN.COM.

The “Advocacy- Connect. Share. Live” conference will be the culmination of a years worth of work by parent groups Community Options has assembled across the country to increase access and resources for children with disabilities.

“Laura offers a unique and refreshing perspective that will challenge everyone who hears her speak. She is such a strong writer and I am on the edge of my seat to hear her live,” says Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options.

Gov. Chris Christie approves N.J. law removing offensive references to people with disabilities

Photo Credit- AARON HOUSTON/For The Star-Ledger

Governor Chris Christie signs a bill that will remove the word "retarded" from the official state lexicon on mentally disabled people.

Written by Susan K. Livio with the Statehouse Bureau

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today made it illegal for state laws or rules to identify anyone with a developmental or intellectual disability as "mentally retarded" by signing legislation sought by people who have felt belittled by the term.

Mental retardation was once a medical diagnostic term, but society turned it into something derogatory, said Tom Baffuto, executive director of the Arc of New Jersey. The nonprofit was founded as the Association for Retarded Citizens until people complained and it changed the name nearly 20 years ago.

Elizabeth Shea, the Arc’s assistant executive director, said the law’s passage is one step in the direction of ridding the hurtful terms from every day conversation.

"We’d like New Jersey to get to a place where you can’t use the ‘R’ word with it being inflammatory,’’ she said.
stephen-sweeney-disabled.jpgAARON HOUSTON/For The Star-LedgerSenator Stephen Sweeney speaks after Governor Chris Christie signed a bill that will remove the word "retarded" from the official state lexicon on mentally disabled people.
Christie said he regretted people had to wait so long to get the bill passed, and said he was proud to have signed it. "This is making sure each citizen in our state is treated with the respect they deserve ... It’s their government, too,’’ he said.

The 81-page bill includes the citations in state law and regulations that have to be changed, including: "mentally retarded," "physically handicapped," "feeble-minded,’’ and "physically or mentally defective." The law also applies to language involving people with mental illness, such as "the insane," the "mentally deficient," and "the mentally ill."

"Words matter - it’s that simple,’’ said Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), one of the bill’s sponsors and the father of a daughter with a developmental disability. "We have a community of productive, hard-working citizens...The ‘R’ word should mean respect."

The legislation (S1982) passed in June.

Samuel Jenkins of Elizabeth, who works for the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project, said the there is a movement to pass a federal law. He’s also participating in a training session with new employees working with people who have developmental disabilities about the impact of hurtful language.

"I am not afraid," Jenkins said. "I will not back down from this challenge."

2010 iMatter Surf Camp for Children with Autism

Please enjoy the 4th Annual iMatter Surf Camp for Children with Autism video. The camp took place on Saturday, August 14, 2010 and was a great success. We had over 400 people in attendance and the children had a great time learning how to surf on this beautiful day!

4th Annual iMatter Surf Camp from jessica on Vimeo.

**Media Advisory**

Media Advisory
**Press Pass Required**

Sports, Health, Children, Autism
On-Site Interviews with Children, Families, Organization, Photo Opps


Date
Saturday, August 14, 2010

Event
iMatter Surf Camp for Children with Autism

Time
Open to the press with a pass at 11am. Event ends at 4pm.

Location
Cupsogue Beach, Westhampton, New York
(Entrance through far end of the parking lot – cut in Dune- Set up there)

Press Pass
To obtain a press pass, please contact Jessica at 973-390-0357 or jessica.guberman@comop.org.

The iMatter Surf Camp for Children with Autism is hosted by Community Options, a national nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities. The iMatter Surf Camp is the largest aquatically therapeutic event in the country for children with Autism.

www.comop.org/surf_camp